INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- The Catholic Herald, Diocese of Madison, was presented with three high-achievement awards from the Catholic Press Association of the United States and Canada during the Catholic Media Convention June 22 in Indianapolis.

The three awards honor all staff members through general excellence, as well as two staff members, editor Mary Uhler and reporter Kat Wagner, for their particular efforts.

General excellence

The newspaper earned first place in general excellence among diocesan newspapers with a circulation of 17,001 to 40,000.

Judges remarked, “Excellence marks every issue by providing strong editorial content in a strong, clean, and pleasing graphic design. A staff-written front page news feature set against a strong color background with good photos and art picks up a major event or issue. What sets the Herald apart is the view of the diocese provided by well crafted stories in ‘Around the Diocese’ and special focus sections from rural life through grieving to youth. Church perspective on issues like conceal and carry get appropriate attention and play.”

Though the Catholic Herald has previously won in the general excellence category, this is the first time the newspaper has won first place.

Best promotional house ad

A February 2011 Catholic Press Month advertisement designed by staff member Kat Wagner received first place in the ll-membership-class award for Best Promotional House Ad.

The full-page advertisement, part of a series for the month of February, featured the lines “How do you like your soul? We prefer ours stirred, not shaken,” and encouraged viewers to subscribe to and read the Catholic Herald to deepen their faith. Judges called the ad “Very good.”

Best editorial

Editor Mary C. Uhler received third place in Best Editorial on a National/International Issue for her February 2011 editorial “We can’t lose our hearts.” The piece referenced the killing of four gypsy children in Rome in relation to our need to protect the poor and vulnerable, particularly in our budget discussions.

Judges remarked, “Writer makes good case against sacrificing the poor on the altar of fiscal restraint.”

Uhler has been editor of the Catholic Herald, Diocese of Madison, since 1986 and has won multiple awards for her editorials and the editorial pages.